Thank you for comments and concern about the rabbits that were abandoned in Chaddesley Woods nature reserve 10 days ago.
We would like to thank the various organisations, animal rescues and individuals who have helped with the efforts since dozens of domestic rabbits were dumped in Chaddesley Woods 10 days ago.
Chaddesley Woods is a National Nature Reserve, which means it is one of the very finest in the country, and we have been working closely with police, the RSPCA and several charities to ensure that the rabbits have been rescued with minimal disturbance to the wood.
We have asked one local organisation, The Badger Trust West Midlands, to continue the search using their technology, like thermal imaging cameras, and to co-ordinate their search efforts with the Trust.
There is no fixed time for ending the search; we’ll be regularly reviewing how long it will last for and this will depend on the success of finding rabbits. The Badger Trust West Midlands and Worcestershire has the correct thermal imaging equipment to locate any remaining rabbits and we have experience of working with them, sensitively, on our nature reserves. It is much more effective for one organisation (in this case The Badger Trust West Midlands and Worcestershire) to search for any rabbits that are left.
We don’t know how many rabbits have been rescued as a number of charities and individuals have taken some and we haven’t had communications from all of these.
The dumping of these rabbits is abhorrent and, like all those concerned, we want to see them all rescued and rehomed. We will continue to assist with ongoing criminal investigations.
Thank you to Badger Trust West Midlands and Worcestershire for taking on this role. Can we please ask everyone else to refrain from searching for the rabbits and allow the Badger Trust to carry out this important work.
Update 27th November 2024
The search for the remaining rabbits is continuing. Rabbits have now been found on neighbouring land and we are working with Badger Trust West Midlands and Worcestershire to ensure all the rabbits are rescued. Badger Trust West Midlands and Worcestershire is working with a local rabbit rescue when rabbits are found.
We have also been working with the RSPCA who have alerted us to the fact that some of the rabbits are carrying a highly contagious and dangerous virus. They have issued the following statement:
“We are strongly advising that anyone who has picked up a domestic rabbit/s from Chaddesley Woods to take the rabbit/s to be examined by a veterinary surgeon without delay.
“If people have picked up rabbits from that location they should keep them separated from any existing rabbits they may have.
“It’s also important for rabbit owners to vaccinate their rabbits as this is the only way to protect them from some of the common serious and often fatal diseases.”
The dumping of these animals, rather than contacting a rescue centre to help check and rehome them, was a despicable act. To do so on a National Nature Reserve, where the virus could spread through the population of wildlife, makes it even worse. We are always vigilant as to the health of wildlife on our land and will, as we always do, keep a lookout for signs of the virus amongst wildlife on the nature reserve.